Its easy to get emotional about our homes but when it comes time to sell our homes we need to leave our emotions behind and put ourselves in the buyers shoes. What do they see and how will they perceive your home.

First thing to remember is how most buyers buy. They see a house on the internet or on a list that a realtor gave them. They jump in their cars and they do a number of drive-bys. If your neighborhood is acceptable they get serious about your home. They spend a maximum of 60 seconds determining if they want to go in your home from the street. So what does that tell us? Head to the street what do they see? If there is something there you dont like, buyers probably wont like it either.

Your homes paint should be in good condition and clean. Also check, garage, gutters, outbuildings, decks, fences and gates. For operation and appeal. Maybe a paint job is not necessary but what about a power washing?
The front door should invite you into your home. Does it need a new paint job? Is the entire entrance inviting? You can always add potted plants to increase appeal.

• Make sure your windows trim and screens are in good working order. Polish doorknobs, clean ironwork, repair ornamentation (shutters, spindles, columns, etc), clean windows and screens.
• Make sure all your outdoor electronics are working including doorbells, exterior lights, etc.
• Remove as much debris as possible, including toys, trash cans, hoses lawn equipment and so on. Find a place for everything.
• Keep your lawn in tip top shape and neatly mowed fix any bare spots, keep your gardens mulched and weeded.
• Improve the visual appeal and emotional comfort by staging your patio furniture in an attractive way. Place containers of flowers to add color.

Remember a few hundred dollars can increase your return 10 fold.

Your Homes Interior

Now its time to asses the interior. What does the buyer see as they walk though your home. The single biggest thing is get rid of extra clutter and furniture!! Your moving so if you want to keep, it pack it and store it, if you dont want it, throw it out!! People want to visualize your home with their personal belongings in it. If you minimize your personalization and clutter your home will be perceived as larger and it will be easier for them to visualize.

• Make sure wallpaper, paint, walls and trim are in good repair.
• Windows, curtains, drapes, blinds, ceiling fans and shutters should be clean and operational.
• Flooring should be clean and in good repair, fix any cracked tile and loose flooring.
• Unclutter your closets and storage areas and make sure they are neatly organized, give them a more spacious look.
• Windows doors and locks should be operational, closing properly and latching properly.
  Check all smoke detectors to see if they are working properly.
• Check all your lighting fixtures and lamps make sure they are operating properly good lighting is important.
  Clean the bathrooms until they shine. Get rid of all bathroom clutter caulk all areas and make sure the lighting is good. Change a dirty shower curtain if necessary.
• Clean the kitchen thoroughly, including all appliances. Remove items from countertops, get rid of the typical kitchen clutter.
• Remove collectibles and excess family pictures. Put away all jewelry, valuables (perhaps remove to safe location such as safe deposit box).
• Asses the plumbing and make sure there are no leaks and it is operational.
  Eliminate household odors (especially pet odors). Keep trash cans out of sight, clear of excess trash. Make sure trashcans are odor-free.
• Basement, attic and garage should be clean and organized.
• Make sure your fireplaces are clean and the wood is stacked neatly.
• If you have any excess furniture, store it give your rooms a more spacious feel. Make your rooms layout sensibly, sometimes we layout our rooms for our convenience and lifestyle but they dont make sense.
• If you have time to prepare your home before marketing it, a home inspection before you market your home could be $200-300 well spent. When inspection time comes for your buyers there shouldnt be to many surprises for you.

Lastly, one of the best things to do is consult with a Realtor. They will guide you through the preparation process and will also let you know what is expected from homes in your target price range. Remember you are competing with similar homes in a similar price range. It pays to know what your competition is like.

Its easy to get emotional about our homes but when it comes time to sell our homes we need to leave our emotions behind and put ourselves in the buyers shoes. What do they see and how will they perceive your home?

Your Homes Exterior

First thing to remember is how most buyers buy. They see a house on the internet or on a list that a realtor gave them. They jump in their cars and they do a number of drive-bys. If your neighborhood is acceptable they get serious about your home. They spend a maximum of 60 seconds determining if they want to go in your home from the street. So what does that tell us? Head to the street what do they see? If there is something there you dont like, buyers probably wont like it either.

• Your homes paint should be in good condition and clean. Also check, garage, gutters, outbuildings, decks, fences and gates. For operation and appeal. Maybe a paint job is not necessary but what about a power washing?
• The front door should invite you into your home. Does it need a new paint job? Is the entire entrance inviting? You can always add potted plants to increase appeal.
• Make sure your windows trim and screens are in good working order. Polish doorknobs, clean ironwork, repair ornamentation (shutters, spindles, columns, etc), clean windows and screens.
• Make sure all your outdoor electronics are working including doorbells, exterior lights, etc.
• Remove as much debris as possible, including toys, trash cans, hoses lawn equipment and so on. Find a place for everything.
• Keep your lawn in tip top shape and neatly mowed fix any bare spots, keep your gardens mulched and weeded.
• Improve the visual appeal and emotional comfort by staging your patio furniture in an attractive way. Place containers of flowers to add color.

Remember a few hundred dollars can increase your return 10 fold.

Your Homes Interior